Adjustable bed construction for caskets



Jan. 10, 1956 .J. L. WHITE ADJUSTABLE BED CONSTRUCTION FOR GASKETS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1954 I w. l l l l w l lvi y U w 1 Z ZMMW.

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Jan. 10, 1956 J. L. WHITE ADJUSTABLE BED CONSTRUCTION FOR GASKETS 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1954 Jan. 110, 1956 J. L. WHITE 2,729,875

ADJUSTABLE BED CONSTRUCTION FOR GASKETS Filed June 9, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 3 E-"lb a 5 44 28 g 15 g 1 E-14 BY ozlNVENgRg mfl miinwArro/eusys.

United States Patent 2,729,815 ADJUSTABLE BED CONSTRUCTIONFOR CASKETSJohn L. White, Cambridge City, Ind. Application June 9, 1954, Serial No.435,417

12 Claims. (CI. 27-12 This invention relates to caskets and isparticularly directed to a casket construction in which the position ofthe bed can be adjusted by tilting either end of the bed from side toside or by raising or lowering either end.

A casket of this type generally includes .a shell or casket body, a bedfor supporting a corpse within the shell and a lid for closing the topof the casket. It has been found highly desirable to provide caskets inwhich the position of the bed within the shell can readily be adjustedby an undertaker. A casket provided with such an adjustable bed can beshipped by the manufacturer to an undertaker with the bed completelylowered, in contact with the floor of the shell, sothat the pillow,mattress, robes and other accessories furnished with the casket can bepacked above the bed and shipped right in the casket in which they areto be used. After the casket is received by the undertaker, it isfrequently dis played in a showroom where purchasers can select frommany different models. In order to display the casket most attractively,the bed is preferably made up and is elevated to a position in which itis spaced only a slight distance below the top of the shell.

Later when a corpse is to be displayed within the casket, the bed iscompletely elevated so that the corpse can be lifted up and placed onthe bed without the necessity of lowering the corpse .down into thecasket. After the pillow and robes have been arranged, the position ofthe bed is adjusted so that thecorpse is dis played most favorably.Positioning a corpse so that it meets with the approval of manyrelatives is a meticulous operationand is greatly facilitated by theprovision of a casket bed which canbe placed in anyof a large number ofdifferent positions. l

The present invention is directed to a casket in which a mortician canreadily change the position of the "bed and corpse to provide exactlythe efiect desired, A bed constructed in accordance with the inventioncan be tilted from side to side, and fromend to end, and can be raisedor lowered to various levels. More particularly, the bed can be adjustedso that it extends, horizontally, or is canted at varying degrees towardthe front or rear of the casket. In addition, each end of the bed can beshifted so that it is disposedin an extreme position adjacent to eitherthe casket floor or .the upper rimof the casket shell, or can besupported in any of a large number of intermediate positions. I

A preferred form of casket constructed in accordance with the presentinvention comprises a shell, each end of which is provided with avertical end post extending substantially from the floor of the casketto a point adjacent to the upper rim thereof, and including a pluralityof vertically spaced apertures. A generally rectangular bed frame isdisposed within the shell. Each end of the bed frame carries apositioning plate which is pivotally mounted to the frame and is adaptedto slidably embrace one of the vertical posts. The positioning platesare identical and include a series of vertically 2,729,875 Patented Jan.10, 1956 spaced notches formed on one edge of the plate, these notchesbeing adapted for cooperative engagement with a finger carried by anadjustment plunger. An adjustment plunger is mounted on each end of thebed frame for reciprocating movement parallel to the end of the frameand is spring urged toward engagement with the positioning plate. Oneend of the adjustment plunger is adapted to engage the aperturesprovided in the vertical post. A cross link interconnects the adjustmentplunger to an actuating handle which is pivotally se cured to a sideframe member.

Sideways canting, or tilting, movement of the frame is obtained bydepressing the actuating handle a fraction of its permitted travelshifting the plunger to disengage the finger carried by the plunger fromthe spaced notches in the positioning plate. When the plunger isretracted only far enough to effect this disengagement, the end of theplunger still resides in contact with an aperture in the vertical postso that the bed frame is held against vertical movement. It is free totilt sideways however, and when it has been canted the desired amount,the actuating handle is released so that the plate engaging arm is urgedinto contact with one of the notches in the positioning plate by thespring acting on the adjustment plunger. If it is desired to change theheight of an end of the bed, the actuating handle is completelydepressed so that the plunger is fully retracted to withdraw the end ofthe plunger from engagement with the notches in the vertical post. Thepositioning plate can then be shifted along the post until the end ofthe bed has been raised or lowered to its dc sired position. When theend of the bed is properly positioned, the actuating handle is releasedso that the end of the plunger is urged by the spring into one of theopenings in the vertical post.

One of the principal advantages of the present bed construction is thatit is. extremely simple to manipulate. No keys or other separateoperating elements are re quired. There is only a single actuatinghandle, mounted at each end of the bed frame. Each handle completelycontrols the positioning of one end of the bed since a partialdepression of the handle permits the bed to be canted sideways and afurther depression allows the end of the bed to be raised or lowered.Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment the actuating handle and springloaded plunger are constructed so that an undertaker can readily locate,by the pressure exerted on the actuating handle, the position of theactuating handle which permits pivotal movement but prohibits liftingmovement. I Another advantage of the present invention is that theactuating handle is easily operated by the mortician while using both ofhishands to support the weight of one end of the bed. Consequently, asingle individual can readily adjust the position of the bed even afterthe corpse has been placed upon it. Furthermore, as explained in detailbelow, the mortician can quickly adjust the position of the bed evenafter a corpse has been placed upon it.

An additional advantage of the present bed construction is that it isextremely compact so that the actuating handle and other elements of theadjustable support mechanism are readily concealed and do not mar theappearance of the display.

A still further advantage of the present adjustable bed is that it isrelatively simple and can be inexpensively produced. Consequently, thisconstruction can be incorporated in moderately priced caskets withoutunduly increasing their cost.

'lhese and other advantages of the present invention will be morereadily apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription of the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a casket provided with a bed andadjustable support constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 22 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of one end of the bed and its associatedsupporting mechanism as viewed along line 3-3 of Figure 2. v

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a semi-diagrammatic view showing a casket interior in whichthe bed has been'disposed with the foot end lowered with respect to thehead end.

Figure 6 is a semi-diagrammatic view, similar to Fig,- ure 5, showingacasket in which the bed has been tilted sideways so that its backeclgeis elevated with respect to its front edge.

Figure 7 is a semi-diagrammatic'view; similar to- Figure 5, showing thecasket bed both tilted from head to foot and canted from rear to front.

As shown in Figure l, a casket 1'0 constructed in accordance with thisinvention comprises a shell 11' formed of sheet metal or other materialsuch as wood or plastic. The shell includes a front wall 12, a rear wall13, end walls 14 and 15, and a bottom 16; A flange 17 extends around theupper periphery of the side and end walls and either a full or sectionallid (not shown) is hinged to the rear wall for closing the top of thelid. Suitable handles 19 are secured to the front and rear walls.

A corpse supporting bed 18 is mounted within the shell. The bed includesa generally rectangular frame formed of side channel irons 20 and endchannel irons 21, the irons being welded or otherwise joined together atthe four corners of the frame. A plurality of springs or straps 22 aresecured to the side and end channel bars, the strips extending acrossthe frame and being adapted to support a mattress which is placed on topof the frame and springs. This mattressv has been omitted from thedrawings for the purpose of clarity.

, In the preferred embodiment, each end of the bed is supported by meansof an adjustable support mechanism indicated generally at 23. However,if for some'reason adjustment is desired only at the head end of thecasket, the foot end of the bed can be mounted in some other suitablemanner. Since in the preferred embodiment the tab 37 which is bent atright angles to the plate and includes a plunger receiving aperture 38.The end of the plate remote from flange is of arcuate configuration.This end of the plate is preferably cut along the arc of a circle havingits center at the pivot point of the plate. The arcuate edge is providedwith a plurality of spaced notches 40, each notch preferably beingdirected along a radius of a circle centered at pivot pin 31.

The end channel of the frame also carries an outwardly extending bracket41 which is welded or otherwise secured to the frame, and is providedwith an aperture 42 in alignment with the opening in the central flange37 of the positioning plate. A cylindrical plunger 43 is insertedthrough the openings 42 and 38 in the bracket and central flange'and isadapted for sliding movement parallel to the end member of the bedframe. When the plunger is in its fully advanced position (to the leftin Figure 3) its inner end 44 passes through one of the apertures 28 inthe vertical post, and when the plunger is in its fully retractedposition the end 44 of the plunger is disengaged from the center post.The plunger is biased toward its advanced position by means of a maincoil spring 45 which is compressed between bracket 41 and an abutmentplate 46, welded or otherwise secured to the plunger.

The plunger also carries a sleeve 47, which is slidable along theplunger and is provided with an extension 48 forming an arm adapted forengagement with the notches in the positioning plate. As shownparticularly in Figure 3, arm 48 also extends through a narrow,elongated slot cut in end channel 21 of the frame. 'An auxiliary spring49, appreciably lighter than main spring 45, is compressed between plate46 and a plate in engagement with sleeve 47. The auxiliary spring iseffective to urge the sleeve toward the inner end 44 of the plunger. Theend of arm 48 is welded or otherwise secured to a cross link 51 disposedwithin the channel and interconnecting the arm and actuating handle 52.The actuating handle is mounted within the channel of side member 20 ofthe support mechanisms disposed at either end' of the bed are stantiallyfrom the floor of the casket to the upper rim of the end walls. Asshown, the vertical posts are formed from strips of sheet metal whichhave been bent into a substantially Z configuration. One leg 25 of thepost 24' abuts the end wall 15 of the shell at a point. substantiallymidway between the two sidewalls and is secured in' place by'somesuitable means such as screws 26. If the end of the casket is of anarcuate configuration, post 24 can be secured to the bottom of'thecasket andito flange 171 The angular arm 27 of the post interconnectingthe two legs is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced apertures28. I p

.A positioning plate 30 is pivot'ally secured, for rotation about ahorizontal axis, to end member 21 of. the bed frame by means of bolt 31and nut 32. As shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the positioningplate is provided with an upper flange 33', a lower flange 34' and anend flange 35 including an over turned lip 36. The three flanges andover turned lip define an opening for receiving the vertical post; thelip being adapted for engagement with the angulated arm of the post,while the ends of the upper and lower flange engage the edged formedalong'the endtof the leg 25*of' the post. Thus the plate is preventedfrom pivotal movement'about the post but is adapted to slide verticallyalong it. The: plate is also provided with a center flange formed by aknocked-out bed frame and is pivotally secured as at 53 to the frame ata point spaced from the end channel member. With the plunger 43 in itsadvanced position, the actuating handle 52' extends angularly across thecorner of the frame where it can readily be depressed, whenever the endofthe bedis to be shifted.

Horizontal adjustment of the bed is effected by grasping the end of thebed frame and depressing handle 52; that is, pivoting it toward theouter edge of the bed frame. Pivotal movement of the handle shifts crosslink 51 and causes sleeve 47 to be retracted. The initial movement ofsleeve 47 compresses auxiliary spring 49 and after that spring has beenfully compressed the retracting force applied to the sleeve istransmitted to plate 46 and in turn to the plunger rod. When. the.handle has been depressed to shift thev adjustment plunger to itsretracted position shown in dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4,, the innerend 44 of the plunger is withdrawn from engagementwith the apertures ofvertical post 24. The end of the bed can then be raised or lowered tothe desired level and the actuating handle released. Main spring 45returns the plunger to its advanced position in which the plunger end 44engages the particular aperture in the post with which it is inregistry; locking the end of the bed at the desired'level.

Lateral canting. movement of the bed can be effected without changingthe vertical height of the bed. This is accomplished by depressingactuating handle 52 to an intermediate position in which extension 48 isdisengaged from the notches 40 in the positioning plate, but adjustmentplunger 43 has not been retracted a sufiicient distance to disengage itsend 44 fromv an aperture in the vertical post. In. the preferredembodiment auxiliary spring 49: is appreciably lighter than main spring45. Consequently, the: sleeve is retracted along the plunger until theauxiliary spring is completely compressed, before sufiicient force istransmitted to the plunger to cause it to move. Preferably the distancewhich the plunger is free to move before the auxiliary spring iscompletely compressed is just sufiicient to result in disengagement ofextension arm 48 from the notches in the positioning plate.

Hence, an undertaker compressing the actuating handie when it is hiddenfrom view, can readily determine the intermediate position of the handlein which the sleeve arm is free of engagement with the positioning platenotches but the end of the. plunger is still in engagement with thenotches of the post, by compressing the handle until he meets greatlyincreased resistance. At this point, the light auxiliary spring has beenfully compressed and the main spring is starting to be compressed. Assoon as he feels this greater resistance, the undertaker maintains theactuating handle in the same position and pivots the bed about pivot pin31 by which the bed is joined to the positioning plate. When the bed isin the desired angulated position, the actuating handle is released andsleeve 47 is urged by auxiliary spring 49 toward the positioning plateso that arm 48 is shifted into engagement with one of the notches of theplate. The bed is then locked in the desired position by the innerengagement of arm 48 with slot 54 in end frame member 21 of the bedframe and notch 40 of the positioning plate.

It will be appreciated that the casket bed frame is constructed of lightweight materials, so that the bed frame may be warped allowing one endof the bed to be angulated while the other is maintained in a horizontalposition. In fact, it is feasible for displaying deformed corpses, toangulate the foot end in one direction and the head end in the other. Bycombining different height and angular adjustment-s at either end of thebed, a wide variety of ditferent positions can be obtained.

From a manufacturing point of view the casket bed supporting mechanismof this invention is extremely advantageous,.since it is very simple andeconomical to produce. The component parts are formed from relativelysimple sheet metal stampings, a cylindrical plunger which can be formedof conventional bar stock, and readily available coil springs. Moreover,the supporting mechanism is adapted for use with the wide variety ofdifferent types of caskets and can readily be installed in a casket,even after the shell has been completely fabricated.

, A further advantage, from a manufacturing point of view, is thatpresent adjusting means permits the use of a standard size bed withcasket shells of varying lengths. Thus, if a standard bed is to beincorporated in a shell of extra length, the only change necessary inthe bed mounting mechanism is that a different vertical post is suppliedat the foot end. In the special vertical post, the angulated arm of theZ is of extra width so that the distance between the two legs issubstantially the same as the end of the casket shell and the foot endof the. bed.

From the foregoing discussion of the general principles of the presentinvention and a disclosure of a preferred embodiment, those skilled inthe art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which theinvention is susceptible.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A support mechanism for adjustably supporting a casket bed, saidmechanism comprising a vertical post configurated to form a plurality ofspaced apertures, a positioning plate pivotally secured to one end ofsaid casket bed, said positioning plate being disposed inslidableengagement with said vertical post, said positioning plate beingconfigurated to form a plurality of vertically spaced notches, anadjustment plunger, means for recip rocally mounting said adjustmentplunger at an end of said bed, said plunger being shiftable to anadvanced position in which it engages one of the openings in thevertical post, said plunger carrying a finger adapted for engagementwith one of the notches provided in said positioning plate when saidplunger is in an advanced position, said plunger being shiftable to aretracted position inwhich it is disengaged from said aperture in theverticalpost and the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioningplate, whereby the end of the bed can be raised or loweredand the sideways angulation of the bed can be adjusted.

2. A support mechanism for adjustably supporting a casket bed, saidmechanism comprising a vertical post configurate to form a plurality ofspaced apertures, a positioning plate pivotally secured to one end ofsaid casket bed, said positioning plate being disposed in slidableengagement with said vertical post, said positioning plate beingconfigurated to form a plurality of vertically spaced notches, anadjustment plunger, means for reciprocally mounting said adjustmentplunger at an. end of said bed, said plunger being shiftable to anadvanced position in which it engages one of the openings in thevertical post, said plunger carrying a finger adapted for engagementwith one of the notches provided in said positioning plate when saidplunger is in an advanced position, said plunger being shiftable to aretracted position in which it is disengaged from said aperture in thevertical post and the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby the end of the bed can be raised or loweredand the sideways angulation of the bed can be adjusted, said plungeralso being shiftable to a position intermediate its advanced andretracted position in which it is in engagement with an aperture in thevertical post but the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby the bed can be tilted sideways but cannot beraised or lowered.

3. A support mechanism for adjustably supporting a casket bed, saidmechanism comprising a vertical post configurated to form a plurality ofspaced apertures, 21 positioning plate pivotally secured to one end ofsaid casket bed, said positioning plate being disposed in slidableengagement with said vertical post, said positioning plate beingconfigurated to form a plurality of vertically spaced notches, anadjustment plunger, means for reciprocally mounting said adjustmentplunger at an end of said bed, said plunger being shiftable to anadvanced position in which it engages one of the openings in thevertical post, said plunger carrying a finger adapted for engagementwith one of the notches provided in said positioning plate when saidplunger is in an advanced position, said plunger being shiftable to aretracted position in which it is disengaged from said aperture in thevertical post, and the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby the end of the bed can be raised or loweredand the sideways angulation of the bed can be adjusted, said plungeralso being shiftable to a position intermediate its advanced andretracted position in which it is in engagement with an aperture in thevertical post but the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby the bed can be tilted sideways but cannot beraised or lowered, a contact handle for shifting said plunger andcomposite spring means for urging, said plunger into its advancedposition, said composite spring means presenting a substantially greaterresistance to plunger retraction after the plunger has been retracted toits intermediate position.

4. In a casket having a casket bed, means for adjustably supporting saidcasket bed, said means comprising a vertical post configurated to form aplurality of spaced apertures, a positioning plate pivotally secured toone end of said casket bed, said positioning plate being disposed inslidable engagement with said vertical post, said positioning platebeing configurated to form a plurality of vertically spaced notches, anadjustment plunger, means for reciprocally mounting said adjustmentplunger at an end of said bed, said plunger being shiftable to anadvanced position in which it engages one of the openings in thevertical post, said plunger carrying a finger adapted for engagementwith one of the notches provided in said positioning plate when saidplunger is in an advanced position, said plunger being shiftable to aretracted position in which it is disengaged from said aperture in thevertical post and the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby the end-of the bed can be raisedorlov'veredand thesideways angulation of the'bed can be adjusted.

S. In a casket having a casket bed, means for adjustably supporting saidcasket bed, said means comprising a vertical post configurated to form aplurality of spaced apertures, a positioning plate pivotally secured toone end of said casket bed, said positioning plate being disposed inslidable engagement with said vertical post, said positioning-platebeing configurated to form a plurality of vertically spaced notches, anadjustment plunger, means for reciprocally mounting said adjustmentplunger at an end of said bed, said plunger being shiftable to anadvanced position in which it engages one of the openings in thevertical post, said plunger carrying a finger adapted for engagementwith one of the notches provided in said positioning plate when saidplunger is in. an advanced'position, said plunger being shiftable to aretracted position in which itis disengaged from said aperture in thevertical post and the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby the end of the bed can be raised or loweredand the sideways angulation' of the bed can. be adjusted, said plungeralso being shiftable to a position intermediate its advanced andretracted position in which it is in engagement with an aperture in thevertical post but the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby'the bed can be tilted sideways but cannot beraised or lowered.

6. Ina casket having a casket bed, means for adjustably supporting saidcasket bed, said means comprising a vertical post configurated to form aplurality of spaced apertures a positioning plate pivotally securedtoone end of said casket bed, said positioning plate being disposed inslidable engagement with said vertical post, said positioning platebeing configurated to form a plurality of verti- I cally spaced notches,an adjustment plunger, means for reciprocally mounting said adjustmentplunger at an end of said bed, said plunger being shiftable to anadvanced position in which it engages one of the openings in thevertical post, said plunger carrying a finger adapted for engagementwith one of the notches provided in said positioning plate when saidplunger is in an advanced position, said plunger being shiftableto aretracted position in which it is disengaged from said aperture in thevertical post, and the finger is disengaged from the notches in thepositioning plate, whereby the end of the bed can'be raised or loweredand the sideways angulation of the bed can be adjusted,said plunger alsobeing shiftable to a position intermediate its advanced and retractedposition in which it is in engagement ,withan aperture in the verticalpost but the finger is disengaged from the notches in the positioningplate, 7

whereby the bed can be tilted sideways but cannot be raised or lowered,a contact handle for shifting said plunger and composite spring meansfor urging said plunger into its advanced position, said compositespring .means presenting a substantially greater resistance to plungerretraction after the plunger has been retracted to its intermediateposition.

7. In a casket including a casket shell and a bed disposed within saidshell, means for adjustably supporting said bed, said means comprising avertical post configurated to form a plurality of spaced apertures, apositioning plate pivotally secured to one end of said casket bed, saidpositioning. plate being disposed in slidable engagement with saidvertical post, said positioning: plate being configurated to form aplurality of vertically spaced notches, an adjustment plunger, means forreciprocally mounting said adjustment plunger at an end of saidbe'd,said plunger being shiftable to an advanced position in which it engagesone of the openings in the vertical post, said plunger carrying afingeradapted for engagement with one of the notches provided in saidpositioning plate when said plunger is inan advanced position, saidplunger being shiftable toa. retracted position inwhich itisdi'sengag'ed from said aperture in the verticalpost and the finger isdisengaged from tlie notches in the position iug plate, whereby the endor the bed can be raised or lowered and the sideways angulation of thebed can be adjusted.

8. in a casket including a casket shell and a bed disposed withinsaidshell', rne'a'ns for adjustably supporting said bed, said meanscomprising a vertical post configurated to form a plurality of spacedapertures, a positioning plate pivotally secured to one end of saidcasket bed, said positioning plate being disposed in slidableengagemen't with said vertical post, said positioning plate beingconfigurat'ed to form a plurality of vertically spaced notches,anadjustment plunger, means for reciprocally mounting said adjustmentplunger at an end of said bed, said pluugerbeing shiftableto an advancedposition in which it engages one of the openings in the vertical post,said plunger carrying a finger adapted for engagement with one of thenotches provided in said positioning plate when said plunger is in anadvanced position, said plunger being shiftable to a retracted positionin which. it is disengaged from said aperture in the vertical post andthe finger is disengaged from the notches in the positioning plate,whereby the end of the bed can be raised or lowered and the sidewaysangulation of the bed can be adjusted, said plunger also being shiftableto a position intermediate its advanced and retracted position in whichit is in engagement with an aperture in the vertical post but the fingeris disengaged from the notches in the positioning plate, whereby the bedcan be tilted sideways but cannot be raised or lowered.

9. In a casket including a casket shell and a bed disposed within saidshell, means for adjustably supportizg said bed, said means comprising avertical. pos't configurated to form a plurality of spaced apertures, apositioning plate pivotally secured to one end of said casket bed, saidpositioning plate being disposed in slidable en gagement with saidvertical post, said positioning plate b :ing configurated to form aplurality of vertically spaced.

notches, an adjustment plunger, means for. reciprocally mounting saidadjustment plunger at an endof said bed,

said plunger being shiftable to an advanced position in which it engagesone of the openings in the vertical post, said plunger carrying a fingeradapted for engagement with one of the notches provided in saidpositioning plate when said plunger is in an advanced position, saidplunger being shiftable to a retracted position in which'it isdisengaged from said aperture in the vertical post, and the finger isdisengaged from the notches in the positioning plate, whereby the end ofthe bed can be raised or lowered and the sideways a'ngulation of the bedcan be adjusted, said plunger also being shiftable to a positionintermediate its advanced and retracted position in which it is inengagement with an aperture in the vertical post but the finger isdisengaged from the notches in the positioning plate, whereby the bedcan be tilted sideways but cannot be raised or lowered, a contact handlefor shifting said plunger and composite spring means for urging saidplunger into its advanced position, said composite spring meanspresenting a substantially greater resistance to plunger retractionafter the plunger has been retracted to its intermediate position.

10. A support" mechanism for adjustably supporting a casket bed, saidmechanism comprising a vertical post configuratedto form a' plurality ofvertically spaced apertures, a positioning plate pivotally secured toone end of said casket bed, said positioning plate being disposed inslidable engagement with said vertical post, said positioning platebeing configurated to form a plurality of vertically spaced notches, anadjustment plunger, means for'm'ounting said. adjustment plunger uponone end of said bed for reciprocal movement therealong, said meansincluding a bracket mounted on said bed, s'aid plunger being shiftableto an advanced position in which it engages one of said openings in thevertical post, a sleeve slidably mounted upon saidplungen. said sleeveincluding a finger adapted for engagement with one of the notchesprovided in said positioning plate and with a cooperating portion ofsaid casket bed, spring means urging said plunger into engagement withsaid aperture in the vertical post and the finger into engagement withone of said notches in the positioning plate, said last named springmeans comprising an abutment plate mounted on said plunger, a springcompressed between said plate and said mounting bracket, and a secondspring lighter than the first compressed between said abutment plate andsaid sleeve, and an actuating handle in operative connection with saidfinger, said finger being retracted along said plunger to a position inwhich said finger is disengaged from said notch before said secondspring is completely compressed, whereby said bed can be rotated whilesaid plunger is still in engagement with one of the apertures in thevertical post.

11. In a casket having a casket bed, means for adjustably supportingsaid casket bed, said means comprising a vertical post configurated toform a plurality of vertically spaced apertures, a positioning platepivotally secured to one end of said casket bed, said positioning platebeing disposed in slidable engagement with said vertical post, saidpositioning plate being configurated to form a plurality of verticallyspaced notches, an adjust ment plunger, means for mounting saidadjustment plunger upon one end of said bed for reciprocal movementtherealong, said means including a bracket mounted on said bed, saidplunger being shiftable to an advanced position in which it engages oneof said openings in the vertical post, a sleeve slidably mounted uponsaid plunger, said sleeve including a finger adapted for engagement withone of the notches provided in said positioning plate and with acooperating portion of said casket bed, spring means urging said plungerinto engagement with said aperture in the vertical post and the fingerinto engagement with one of said notches in the positioning plate, saidlast named spring means comprising an abutment plate mounted on saidplunger, a spring compressed between said plate and said mountingbracket, and a second spring lighter than the first compressed betweensaid abutment plate and said sleeve, and an actuating handle inoperative connection with said finger, said finger being retracted alongsaid plunger to a po- 10 sition in which said finger is disengaged fromsaid notch before said second spring is completely compressed, wherebysaid bed can be rotated while said plunger is still in engagement withone of the apertures in the vertical post.

12. In a casket including a casket shell and a bed disposed within saidshell, means for adjustably supporting said bed, said means comprising avertical post configurated to form a plurality of vertically spacedapertures, a positioning plate pivotally secured to one end of saidcasket bed, said positioning plate being disposed in slidable engagementwith said vertical post, said positioning plate being configurated toform a plurality of vertically spaced notches, an adjustment plunger,means for mounting said adjustment plunger upon one end of said bed forreciprocal movement therealong, said means including a bracket mountedon said bed, said plunger being shiftable to an advanced position. inwhich it engages one of said openings in the vertical post, a sleeveslidably mounted upon said plunger, said sleeve including a fingeradapted for engagement with one of the notches provided in saidpositioning plate and with a cooperating portion or" said casket bed,spring means urging said plunger into engagement with said aperture inthe vertical post and the finger into engagement with one of saidnotches in the positioning plate, said last named spring meanscomprising an abutment plate mounted on said plunger, a springcompressed between said plate and said mounting bracket, and a secondspring lighter than the first compressed between said abutment plate andsaid sleeve, and an actuating handle in operative connection with saidfinger, said finger being retracted along said plunger to a position inwhich said finger is disengaged from said notch before said secondspring is completely compressed, whereby said bed can be rotated Whilesaid plunger is still in engagement with one of the apertures in thevertical post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

